Scott is about to start systematic desensitization for his phobia of snakes. What is the basic goal of this technique?

A) The client learns to face his fear regardless of how scared it makes him feel.
B) The client associates a state of relaxation with fear-evoking stimuli.
C) The client systematically overcomes a fear by coming in contact with it every day.
D) The client forms a series of visual images that can be used during a fear-evoking situation.

The basic goal of systematic desensitization is to associate a state of relaxation with fear-evoking stimuli, in order to gradually reduce the fear response. This is accomplished through a series of gradually escalating steps in which the client is exposed to the feared stimulus while practicing relaxation techniques. The goal is not for the client to face their fear regardless of how scared it makes them feel or to simply come in contact with the fear every day. While visual images may be used as part of the desensitization process, they are not the primary goal of the technique.